The 2023 USFL regular season is set to kick off on April 15, with all eight teams playing in four different hub cities, instead of one (Birmingham, Alabama). The Philadelphia Stars, who lost in the USFL championship last year against the Birmingham Stallions, will open up the second season on the road against the Memphis Showboats. Philadelphia will play its home games at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan.

However, before we can get to Week 1, the Stars and the rest of the USFL teams are still making additions to their roster. Over the past month, Philadelphia re-signed TE Bug Howard and CB Channing Stribling, who were major contributors to last year’s team. The team also added some new faces such as former NFL players TE Ryan Izzo and RB Jordan Scarlett. Below we’ll tell you who else is returning to the Stars and provide some info on this afternoon’s USFL College Draft.

  • The Stars announced late last week that QBs Case Cookus and KJ Costello re-signed with the team. Cookus was one of the breakout stars in the USFL after replacing starter Bryan Scott early last season. The former NAU standout completed 62.5 percent of his passes for 1,334 yards, 12 touchdowns, and five interceptions. Cookus also had a rushing touchdown, which came off a ridiculous 79-yard run against the Michigan Panthers. Cookus should be one of the top quarterbacks in the USFL this season, especially with Kyle Sloter and Jordan Ta’amu in the XFL.

 

  • Philadelphia also announced the signing of former NFL wide receiver Corey Coleman. The veteran wide receiver enters the USFL after spending three seasons with the Browns and Giants. Coleman was on the Chiefs’ practice squad this past season but was released in October. The Stars hope the 28-year-old wideout can make some big plays in the passing game this season.

 

 

  • Lastly, the USFL will hold its first-ever college draft at 1 p.m. ET. The draft will be conducted through social media and theUSFL.com. The draft is set for 10 rounds and 80 picks. Philadelphia has the No. 6 pick in the first round and a selection in Rounds 2-10. All eight teams will be drafting the player rights from a pool of 3,000 players in what should be an exciting process as the league looks toward the future. At Total Sports Live, we will keep you updated on who the Stars selected in the first round and throughout the draft.

[Photo courtesy of Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images]